Lomandra hystrix plant named &#39;LHCOM&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘LHCOM’ is a distinctive variety of  Lomandra hystrix  which is characterized by the combination of its compact, dense plant growth habit, horizontal basal shoot attitude, short plant height and narrow-medium leaf width.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosedherein is Lomandra hystrix.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The inventive variety of Lomandra disclosed herein has been given thevariety denomination ‘LHCOM’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial variety ofLomandra hystrix, which has been given the variety denomination of‘LHCOM’. Its market class is that of an ornamental grass-like plant.‘LHCOM’ is intended for use in landscaping and as a decorativegrass-like plant.

The Lomandra hystrix variety ‘LHCOM ’ was first discovered in 2002 in anAustralian nursery in the state of New South Wales during a routineinspection of approximately 5000 seedlings of open pollinated Lomandrahystrix (unpatented) production stock. ‘LHCOM ’ is a seedling selectionof these open pollinated Lomandra hystrix. Initially 200 plants wereselected due to their smaller shoot and leaf sizes. These were grown onand further observed. In 2003 these were reduced to 10 selections basedon these same desirable traits. Finally in late 2004 a single plant wasidentified as having a narrower leaf width combined with a compact,dense growth habit with a shorter plant height than the parent form aswell as a more horizontal basal shoot attitude. It was named ‘LHCOM’.

‘LHCOM’ was first propagated asexually by division in the state of NewSouth Wales, Australia and has since been asexually propagated bydivision and micropropagation. The distinctive characteristics of theinventive ‘LHCOM’ variety are stable from generation to generation;clones of the variety produced by asexual reproduction maintain thedistinguishing characteristics of the original plant.

‘LHCOM’ has a compact, dense growth habit with a more horizontal basalshoot attitude, a short plant height and leaves that are shorter andnarrower than common Lomandra hystrix (unpatented in the United States).

An application for plant breeders' rights for variety ‘LHCOM’ has beenlodged with the Australian Plant Breeders' Rights Office, and wasaccepted on May 30, 2006 under Application No. 2006/088.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘LHCOM’ is a distinctive variety of Lomandra hystrix which ischaracterized by the combination of its compact, dense plant growthhabit, horizontal basal shoot attitude, short plant height andnarrow-medium leaf width.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a ‘LHCOM’ plant.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinctvariety of a Lomandra hystrix ornamental grass-like plant known as‘LHCOM’. Plant observations were made on plants grown in New SouthWales, Australia. Unless indicated otherwise, the descriptions disclosedherein are based upon observations made in April 2007 of mature ‘LHCOM’plants grown in nursery pots.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘LHCOM’ has notbeen observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety mayvary with variations in the environment such as season, temperature,light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like. Colornotations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, 1995 edition. ‘LHCOM’ has notflowered to date. ‘LHCOM’ is undergoing further trialing and comparativetesting in Australia and the United States.

‘LHCOM’ is a perennial Lomandra hystrix plant which originated from aseedling selected from a population of open pollinated plants ofLomandra hystrix. After its selection, ‘LHCOM’ was asexually propagatedby division and subsequently by micropropagation. ‘LHCOM’ has anarrow-medium leaf blade width combined with a compact, densely shootedplant growth habit and a short plant height, which is unusual forLomandra hystrix plants which usually have a broader leaf blade and atall plant height. ‘LHCOM’ has a horizontal basal shoot attitude whichcreates a plant shape which is more rounded whereas common Lomandrahystrix plants usually have a more upright to vertical basal shootattitude creating a plant shape more like an inverted cone.

Growth Habit, Dimensions and Color

‘LHCOM’ is a short-medium, rhizomatous plant forming a dense tussock.Average plant height is 70 cm and average plant spread is 110 cm in amature plant grown in a 300 mm nursery or field pot in Sydney, New SouthWales, Australia. The upper and lower side of the leaf is yellow green(RHS 146A) in color. The leaf blade is generally 11 to 12 mm in width,and 60-65 cm in length. The leaf base is cauline, leaf margin is entire,leaf apex is tridentate and leaf surface glaucosity is weak to absent.The leaf venation pattern is parallel; the color is the same as the restof the leaf (yellow-green RHS 146A; observed autumn 2007). The leaf isgenerally a uniform width from base to the tip, margins may shred at thebase, with a tridentate apex typical of Lomandra hystrix. The basal leafmargin color prior to any shredding consists of brown RHS 200D edgedwith orange white RHS 159B. A representative ‘LHCOM’ plant is shown inFIG. 1.

Roots

Similar to other Lomandra hystrix, ‘LHCOM’ has a large root structure.The roots are fibrous and spreading, similar to other Lomandra hystrix.

Rhizomes

Short (3 cm to 4 cm); rhizome color with the leaf sheath removed iswhite (RHS 155C); surface texture of the rhizome is smooth.

Inflorescence

‘LHCOM’ has not flowered to date. This is unusual for a Lomandra hystrixwhich normally flowers from spring to summer. ‘LHCOM’ is undergoingfurther testing.

Comparison of ‘LHCOM’ with Other Varieties of Lomandra hystrix

‘LHCOM’ is the first variety of this species and therefore comparison ismade to the common species form which is usually reproduced by seed forthe market place.

‘LHCOM’ has a shorter plant height than the common form of Lomandrahystrix. This combined with the dense plant growth habit produces a muchmore compact looking plant than the common form of Lomandra hystrix.‘LHCOM’ has a horizontal basal shoot attitude which creates a morerounded tussock whereas common form of Lomandra hystrix has more uprightbasal shoots that produce a more conical shaped tussock. The leaf bladewidth of ‘LHCOM’ is narrower than that of the common form of Lomandrahystrix.

The combination of its compact, dense plant growth habit, horizontalbasal shoot attitude, short plant height and narrow-medium leaf widthmakes ‘LHCOM’ an attractive ornamental grass-like plant.

Asexual Reproduction

After its initial discovery, ‘LHCOM’ was transplanted into a 140 mm potfor further trials and testing. After divisions were made for a secondgeneration, ‘LHCOM’ was observed to retain plant growth characteristicsthat were noted in the original ‘LHCOM’ seedling. ‘LHCOM’ was thendivided into many larger pots for further evaluation and introduction tomicropropagation.

Environmental Tolerances

‘LHCOM’ has shown potential for shade tolerance and further shadetolerance tests are underway. The winter hardiness of ‘LHCOM’ is atleast to zone 8a in the Southeastern United States, and evaluation ofwinter hardiness is ongoing. ‘LHCOM’ has been observed to hold color to−10 degrees Celsius without any noticeable change in appearance of theplant. ‘LHCOM’ has excellent drought tolerance. After severe wilting,‘LHCOM’ has been noted to recover with watering. ‘LHCOM’ does well insandy soils, but also tolerates heavy, clay-type soils well.

Disease Resistance

‘LHCOM’ has good resistance to root rot compared with most otherLomandra hystrix and evaluation of disease resistance is ongoing.

1. A new and distinct variety of Lomandra hystrix plant named ‘LHCOM’,substantially as described and illustrated herein.